Accommodation Australia and Minister for Tourism and Travel, Don Farrell, have unveiled a digital careers and training platform to address key challenges in the tourism, hospitality and travel industries.
Developed and managed by Accommodation Australia, and supported by an industry advisory committee, Eeger will harness innovative technology, industry expertise and tailored resources to tackle issues such a workforce development, skills shortages and career growth.
“This one stop shop will help tourism and hospitality workers grow their skill sets to continue to build their careers and help businesses find the employees they need,” said Minister Don Farrell.
“My first job was in tourism, and I know firsthand the opportunities, development and growth it offers.
“The Albanese Labor Government is proud to partner with Accommodation Australia to deliver on our commitment to the tourism and hospitality industry to make it easier for Australian businesses to find staff and provide greater opportunities for workers.”
The project, announced this week and set for an official rollout in March 2025, is funded by the Australian Government through a $10 million grant from Austrade.
It comes at a critical time for the sector with 691,000 direct tourism jobs in the Australian economy in 2024, up 5.7% on last year and an increase from the 443,000 jobs in 2022.
Jobs in tourism, travel and hospitality are projected to grow 6% in the next five years and 12% in the next decade.
“This is the right time for this project with an estimated 55,000 new roles to be filled in the next five years making Tourism, Hospitality, and Travel among the top five industries for projected employment growth,” said Accommodation Australia CEO, James Goodwin.
“The industry-led platform aims to inspire and empower job seekers, support employers, and strengthen the visitor economy workforce at every stage of their journey.
“I hope individuals will discover careers they may not have known about and ones that are more than just jobs but pathways to fulfilling lives in a thriving sector,” Goodwin said.
Described as a platform “where people people grow”, Eeger is intended to serve as a centralised resource hub to support collaboration among businesses, educators and service providers.
On Eeger, job seekers will gain access to job vacancies, career insights and training programs; tools that match skills to career paths across the three sectors, as well as resources to upskill.
Employers will be able to advertise jobs on Eeger for free for the first 12 months and explore workforce development tools to attract and retain talent.
“It’s a privilege for Accommodation Australia to lead this program in partnership with the Australian Government and on behalf of industry,” said AA Chair David Mansfield.
“Together we’re shaping a sustainable and thriving future for the visitor economy.”